Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers now know the full extent of his shoulder injury. Paul, the team's focal point guard, will miss six weeks with a joint separation but will not need surgery, the Clippers announced Sunday.

The news comes after an MRI exam and evaluation by team doctors. Paul had initially been expected to miss at least three weeks. The six-week time frame is shorter than Paul's recovery if he had surgery.

Chris Paul (AP Photo)

Paul was injured in Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. He crashed to the court in the third period after being fouled by Monta Ellis.

The Clippers are looking for guard help and waived Maalik Wayns to clear a roster spot. They will turn Paul's point guard job over to Darren Collison.

Paul will be difficult to replace. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and is averaging 19.6 points, a league-high 11.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

The Clippers continue to be without J.J. Redick, who is nursing a broken right hand and torn right wrist ligaments. Jamal Crawford moves from his sixth-man role to starting opposite Collison in the backcourt.